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Many new collectors will first build up a run of "loose", or unboxed, figures

Star Wars has won millions of fans since it first hit movie screens four decades ago. Following Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm, a whole new generation has fallen in love with the fictional universe.

Predictably, interest in the world of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia, went into hyperspace following 2015's The Force Awakens, leading to a scramble for toys - old and new.

However, four years later - ahead of the release of Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker - there are signs this could be changing.

On Thursday, 40 Star Wars figures from the early 1980s, still in their original packaging, will be auctioned at Hansons, in Derbyshire - the latest test of the value of the vintage toys.

So, how popular are new Star Wars products and are the original figures holding their value?

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Collectors who were children in the early 1980s are believed to have driven a fresh boom in 2015

Why do people collect Star Wars toys?

Mark Daniels was five years old when he saw the original film and he soon began collecting the toys.

By his early teens he had sold most of them, but his interest was reignited when he started art college.

"I bought a couple of loose figures for 50p each from a flea market," he said.

"From there I was able to pick up entire childhood collections at car boot sales for £10 or less, as during the early 90s Star Wars was largely forgotten and very few people were bothered about it.

"Our generation that grew up with these toys have the nostalgic connection with some of these items, younger generations not so much."